When I try to open a folder, the screen is blank. When I right click, it says "Not responding". Have you ever experienced that when using Windows 11, Explorer freezes and you can't do anything?

As of February 2026, there are a number of reports on SNS and Microsoft Q&A that Explorer freezes after updating Windows 11. In particular, there are reports that symptoms appeared after applying KB5077181 (delivered in February 2026).

In this article, we will explain in an easy-to-understand manner the six main reasons why Explorer freezes or becomes unresponsive, and the solutions you can try right away. Before you panic and think, ``Do I have to buy a new computer?'', first try the methods introduced here in order.

Try it first! How to restart Explorer

When Explorer freezes, the first thing you should try before restarting the entire PC is Restarting just Explorer. Actually, Explorer (explorer.exe) is a Windows program, so you can stop it and start it again.

Steps to restart from task manager

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc at the same time to open Task Manager
  2. Look for 'Explorer' (or 'Windows Explorer') in the 'Processes' tab
  3. Right-click and select Restart

This alone will cause the screen to flicker for a moment, and Explorer will often restart. You don't have to close the file you're working on, so try this first.

If the task is stuck to the point where you can't even open the task manager, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Task Manager," or as a last resort, press and hold the power button to force quit.

Cause 1: Too much quick access history has accumulated

"Quick Access" is the first thing you see when you open Explorer. Recently used files and frequently used folders are automatically displayed here, but if a large amount of this historical data accumulates, Explorer may become slow.

Workaround: Delete quick access history

  1. Click “…” (three dots) in the top menu of Explorer → “Options”
  2. Click the Clear button in the Privacy field at the bottom of the General tab
  3. In addition, uncheck "Show recently used files" and "Show frequently used folders"
  4. Close with "OK"

This alone may make Explorer start much faster. According to Pasoble, there are many cases where this method can be used to improve the situation.

Cause 2: Windows Update bug

With the security update KB5077181 distributed in February 2026, there have been reports of boot loop (repeated restarts) issues and unstable operation of Explorer. Niche PC Gamer Environment Construction Z, as of February 24, 2026, it is not listed in Microsoft's "Known Issues" list, but the number of reports from users continues to increase.

Please note that the preview update KB5074105 distributed on January 29, 2026 includes fixes for bugs such as ``Explorer becomes unresponsive'' and ``Taskbar disappears.'' Windows Latest reports that this update fixes an issue where explorer.exe would hang due to certain startup apps.

Workaround: Apply the latest Windows Update or remove problematic updates

  1. Apply the latest patch in "Settings" → "Windows Update" → "Check for updates"
  2. If that doesn't work, try deleting the most recent KB in Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates.

Deleting updates is a temporary solution. Once Microsoft releases a patch, apply the update again.

Cause 3: Shell extension (right-click menu) conflict

If Explorer freezes when you right-click, Shell Extensions are most likely the cause. Shell extensions are items added to the right-click menu when software is installed. Examples include "Open with 7-Zip," "GitBash Here," and "Scan for Viruses."

If these extensions interfere with each other, or if extensions from older software are incompatible with Windows 11, it will freeze the moment you right-click.

Workaround: Disable problematic extensions in ShellExView

  1. Download and launch NirSoft's free tool ShellExView
  2. Narrow down "Context Menu" by "Type" column
  3. Disable selected non-Microsoft third-party extensions
  4. Restart Explorer and check if the freeze is resolved
  5. Re-enable one by one to identify the causative extension

According to WinTips.org, third-party shell extensions are the most common cause of Explorer crashes.

Cause 4: Interference with cloud synchronization software

Cloud syncing software such as OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive may interfere with Explorer and cause it to freeze. In particular, since OneDrive is built into Windows 11 by default, problems such as ``backup starting automatically'' and ``desktop files being moved to OneDrive'' tend to occur.

Workaround: Pause cloud sync

  1. Right-click the OneDrive icon (cloud symbol) at the right end of the taskbar
  2. Select "Pause sync" → "24 hours"
  3. Check if Explorer is stable

Once you stop synchronization and the freeze is resolved, turn off synchronization of unnecessary folders from "Manage backups for this PC" in OneDrive settings.

Cause 5: Corrupted system files

If the Windows system files are corrupted, not only Explorer but the entire OS will become unstable. Files may become corrupted due to factors such as a failed update or sudden power outage.

Workaround: Repair with SFC and DISM command

  1. Right-click on the start button → Open "Terminal (Administrator)"
  2. Enter the following commands in order and press Enter
sfc /scannow

This will take a few minutes to complete. When finished, also run the following command: 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Roughly speaking, SFC is a command that checks and repairs Windows files for corruption, and DISM is a command that repairs the data itself used by SFC. This is also the recommended method in Microsoft Official Help.

Cause 6: Problem with Explorer tab function

In some cases, Explorer's tab feature (a feature that allows you to open multiple folders in tabs like in a browser) added in Windows 11 is causing freezes. It has been reported on Windows Support that opening a large number of tabs or switching tabs quickly may cause the device to become unresponsive.

Workaround: Set the folder to open in a separate process

  1. Click “…” → “Options” in Explorer
  2. Open the View tab
  3. Check Open folder window in a separate process
  4. Close with "OK"

If this setting is turned on, one Explorer window freezes without affecting other windows. Although it is not a fundamental solution, it can minimize the damage caused by freezes.

What to do if the problem still persists

If the problem does not improve after trying all the above methods, please also consider the following methods.

  • Start in Safe Mode: If it doesn't freeze in Safe Mode, third-party software is the culprit. Enter safe mode from "Settings" → "System" → "Recovery" → "Customize how your PC starts" → "Restart now"
  • Create a new user account: If the cause is a corrupted user profile, signing in with a new account may work.
  • Check the health of your storage: Deterioration of the HDD/SSD may slow down file loading, which may result in Explorer freezing. If the "health status" of CrystalDiskInfo is "warning" or "abnormal", consider backing up and replacing your data

FAQ

Is it because of a virus that Explorer freezes?

Although it is possible, it is often caused by software conflicts or corrupted system files as mentioned above. Just to be safe, it's a good idea to run a "quick scan" on Windows Defender and check.

If I restart Explorer, will the open folder disappear?

Yes, all open Explorer windows will be closed. However, files being worked on in other apps such as Word or Excel will not be affected.

Does Windows 11 tend to freeze if it is an older version?

There is a possibility. In particular, support for Windows 11 21H2 and 22H2 has ended, and patches to fix bugs will not be distributed. The latest version as of February 2026 is25H2. You can check it in "Settings" → "System" → "Version Information".

When Explorer freezes, is it okay to turn off the computer by pressing and holding it?

This is a last resort, but the file you are working on may not be saved. First, try opening Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and restarting Explorer.

When I executed the SFC command, the message "Integrity violation found" was displayed. Has it been repaired?

If the message "Windows Resource Protection found the corrupted file and successfully repaired it" is displayed, the repair was successful. If you get a message saying "Repair could not be done," run the DISM command first, then try SFC again.

References